Lydia to Robert 17 Mar 1945

Dear Bob[1] ─

        We got your letter this morning and were much interested in the clippings[2]. What sort of a newspaper did they come from? What does the “M” in M.A.A.F. HQ[3] stand for?  Walter and I listen closely to the radio for all news of the 15^th Air Force and wonder about you every time. You were grounded for 10 days just recently, weren’t you? Is it the weather? You’ve evidently got quite a route to fly, judging from the maps. Make it safely every time ─ please!

        Theunion is having a meeting tonight ─ so perhaps will get to go back to work. I’llnever be so down[4]on strikes again ─ I can do nothing about it and perhaps the majority of them workers[5] are just as helpless. I rant & rave so that Walter warns that if the union hears echoes of my talk they’ll put me on a picket line for discipline!

        I am making a meat stew on my one burner today. The frying onions and stewed meat smell wonderful ─ and I even have a few bananas for dessert. Wish you could drop in for dinner ─ I’d open my jar of mama’s pickled peaches for you! And we’d have real butter & pomegranate jelly –

                                                                                Lydia[6]

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[1] Addressed to Addressed to:  Lt. R. B. Richert 02071698; 99^th Bm Gr., 346 Bm Sq.; APO 520; c/o P.M. New York City,  N.Y.

[2] No associated clippings found with V-Mail.

[3] Mediterranean Allied Air Force.

[4] This is an uncertain transcription. Current usage of “down” can suggest support, but in context the sentence seems to mean depressed about strikes.

[5] This is an uncertain transcription. The sentence can make sense, but “them workers” syntax seems strange for the letter writer. Perhaps it reflects the accent of a common reference.

[6] Return Address: Lydia Smith; 1856 Vista Del Mar; Hollywood 28 Calif. Dated 3/17/45.